A fan-favorite Star Trek actor and a controversial director are collaborating on a wild new project!
Tig Notaro is well known to Star Trek fans for her role as the quirky, sardonic Discovery engineer Jett Reno. The veteran stand-up comic did great in the part, becoming a fan favorite and boosting her fame.
Speaking with the On with Kara Swisher podcast, Notaro said of teaming up again on a new project with famed director Zack Snyder, who she worked with on Army of the Dead (per Variety):
“‘What if we just went for it and everyone’s a hot lesbian?' He was like, ‘Oh my God, yes, let’s make that movie.’ And so who knows? It’s a Hollywood project. We’re in the process of putting the script together. Picture this poster: We have the name of the film, and then it says ‘Hot Lesbian Action.’ That’s how I sold him on the Zoom. As of now, the the movie is called ‘Deviants,’ and takes place back in some old-timey days, like some closeted deviants."
Notaro had wanted to work with Zack Snyder again, thanks to how he helped boost her fame with his 2021 film Army of the Dead. The movie was a spin on the zombie format as a pack of mercenaries is hired to infiltrate a zombie-filled Las Vegas to get to a vault of money and get out before the government nukes the city. Notaro said of her appearance in the movie, and its effect on her career, during the same sit-down:
“I go viral for being sexy in this film. And it was so unexpected. My phone’s exploding. I’m not walking around going ‘Oh my God,’ you know, ‘check me out.’ I was so confused. So I called Zack, and I said, ‘I’m hearing it from straight men, gay men, gay women and straight women that they think I’m hot in this movie.'”
What makes this notable is that Notaro wasn’t part of the film’s original production. Chris D’Elia had played the role of helicopter pilot Peters. During post-production in 2020, D’Elia was accused of assault on underage girls. Snyder thus made the risky move of recasting Notaro in the role, shooting new scenes with her and using CGI and clever editing to make it appear as if the actress had been on set the whole time.
There’s not much else on the film as they’re still developing the script. It would be an interesting departure for Snyder who’s known for his bombastic big-budget films like 300, Man of Steel and Rebel Moon.
The man does have a knack for great action sequences and often pushes strong female characters as well. Taking on a smaller-scale production might play more to his strengths. It would help if Notaro manages to assemble a cast of funny actors who can provide plenty of laughs.
In the meantime, Notaro will reprise her role of Reno in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, providing a welcome return for the character. But the idea of her and Snyder teaming up for a big-screen comedy is welcome news to fans of this popular comedian.
Visit the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages for more Star Trek content.